Why are these people smiling? Why, Legal Bribery of course

Charlotte’s effort to land Cincinnati-based Chiquita Brands International — and the 400 high-paying jobs it will bring — also included expensive dinners, custom-made bowties and a citywide Twitter campaign. Chiquita also cited the advantages of Charlotte’s airport, with far more nonstop flights to the countries where the company does business.

“States and localities have become more aggressive in their use of incentives, and at the same time … companies have become a lot more aggressive in what they ask for,” said Jonathan Morgan, a professor in the School of Government at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. “It kind of contributes to this slippery slope of, the more you offer in incentives, the more companies will demand.”